Brick Red Assorted Antique African Trade Bead Necklace 38" 77 Beads Shapes Sizes

Brick Red Assorted Antique African Trade Bead Necklace. 38 inches long, 77 beads in 11 different types, from 5 mm - 2.5 cm long. Many are likely Venetian. Some have applied millefiori. Most appear to be wound, some drawn, some wound and pressed, other were perhaps cast. The cast beads are pitted, and were perhaps meant to resemble coral, these may have been made in West Africa. The smallest round beads are unlined Cornaline d' Aleppo. The necklace itself is not antique, at least, it has been restrung. The beads are antique. The arrangement of beads in the necklace is asymmetrical, but has a rhythm. The beads are in excellent condition. The method of creating may leave pits and irregular surfaces, some may have small chips. Please see photos for condition details. Thanks! Trade beads were made predominately in Venice and Bohemia and with some also crafted in Germany, France, and the Netherlands from the late 1400s through to the early 1900s and traded in Africa and the Americas. The heyday of this "trade" period was from the mid 1800s through the early 1900s when millions of these beads were produced and traded in Africa. The Venetians dominated this market and produced the majority of the beads sold during this time. The popularity of these beads was revived in the late 1960s when they began to be exported from Africa into the United States and Europe. The term "Trade Beads" became very popular during this time period and is still used for the same bead reference toda